The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-12-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Il Regular Corresponicnt.)
Washington, Dee. 10, 1887.
The general drift of Democratic
comment on the Presidents brtef
and practical message to Congress,
bestoWs the highest praise on that
document. Indeed. many of Mr..
Clevcland's warmcst admirers in
Congress e~Xultingly declare that it
State paper issued since the days
of Jackson. There is naturally Il
chorus Of discordcnt nptcS uttered
in an undertonc, but that the Pres.
idcnts views are those of the Dem
Ocratic masses, there is little rea-
son to seriously doubt. With the
President and the Speaker Of the
House cordially concurring upon
the absolute necessity of tariff re-
form, that question dwarfs all 9TH
er5 and becomes the chief political
issue of the times. Democrats diff
ter as to the particular methods of
reaching the desired result of re-
Quoting internal taxation, but all
agree that q reduction is the coun-
try's only chance Of financial re-
dcmption.
And here in Washington, it is
the universal opinion of all the pol
iticians that the tariff question will
he the chief factor in the president
tial contest Of 1888.
The organization of tkc Firtieth
Congress was effected in Il d%ecOrOus
manner, despite the anticipation of
Il deadlock in the Senate. which
failed to matcrialiZc, although the
public thronGcd thccorridors Of the
capitol in tho hope Of witnessing
sensational scenes.
The Centennial Congress will GER
tainly be memorable for the sweep
ing changes i'll the personnel Of the
house. Not since 1874, when the
tidal wave OF Democracy over
whelmed Republicanism, has there
been such a revolution i'm the mem
hcrshir of that body, for Of the 32J
who were in the last Congress, l30
failed to return. Among those re-
tired are many prominent men, as
fully twO-third3 of the chairmen or
committees were numbered with
t defeated. or the familiar IA
missing FROM the Senate arc
Camden Jones, of Florida, Malone,
Harrison and Whitthorne, and
from the House, Morrison. Bragg,
~Barksdalc, Warner, Brady, and
Oi1ara and SmallS,-thc two latter
being colprcd and hniling from
North and south Carolina This
lcavcs"O ur brOthcrSin black" with
out Il race representatives in the
present Congress.
Speaker Carlisle enters upon his
third term rs presiding oniccrofthe
liousc-a distinction only confcr-
rod upon five of his predecessors
the last ofthcSc being Mr. Blaine.
There is much doubt MS to whether
or not Mr. Carlisle will be able to APP
point his committees before he hol-
iday adjournment, As, in addition
to the usual pressure for desirable
places. the Speaker has much new
material with which to deal. Cap.
ital gossip has assigned the follow
ing members To chairmanship.
Mills, Ways and Means; Randall
Appropriations; Turncr. Elections;
CulbertSOn, Judiciary; Bland, Coin
age, Weights and Measures; Blan-
chard, Rivers and Harbors, and
Herbert, Naval Affairs.
Rumor, apparently we'll founded,
has il that these observation-disclosures
as good rs settled. For once at
least, the political prophets were
correct in forc-caSting the late Cab
met changes. There is not the
least doubt Of Mr. L0mar's prompt
confirmation as Associate Justice
when his nomination shall have
been reported back from the Judi
ciary Committee. Many gubordi-
mates in the intcriorand Post Office
Department are now somewhat
concerned about their uncertain
tenure ofplaces, as it is known there
will be II number Of changes in the
force.
Washington is now crowded with
viSitors-churchmen, politicians,
and statesmen, attracted by the
meeting Of the American Fvangc-
lical Alliance, the presence ofCOn-
grcss, and the session of tho Nation
al Republican Executive Commit
tee.